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Thursday, 25 April 2013

Cartoon-time

I've already written about Weinberg's prolific writing for the cinema. Alongside these scores, there are several ballets, music for theatre productions and a large collection of circus music. In addition to all these, there is a large selection of music for cartoons - and, in this age of youtube, a large amount of these are available to watch online.

When watching these films, we see how adaptable Weinberg's music can be, writing to suit every occasion. And while his music for children may not have the fame of that of Prokofiev or Britten, his music for cartoons is certainly captivating and inventive.

So, for your enjoyment, here is a selection of cartoons that Weinberg scored. (Perhaps, secretly, this is an excuse for me to watch lots of cartoons and pretend I'm working?) Still, I hope you enjoy them. They're quite delightful.

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Perhaps Weinberg's most famous animated score - the ever-popular 'Vinnie Pukh'. He scored three different Vinnie Pukh films, from 1969, 1971 and
1972. (Incidentally, this clip serves as my favourite example to
introduce Weinberg's music to non-musicians!)
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The above is a 1953 cartoon entitled Храбрый Пак (The Courageous Pak), based on a Korean story of a young man fighting a dragon.

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Двенадцать месяцев (The Twelve months) is from 1956, based on a fairy-tale by Samuil Marshak.

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Топтыжка/Toptyzhka (1964), a story around two friends, a bear and a rabbit.

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КАНИКУЛЫ БОНИФАЦИ/Kanikuly Bonifatsiya (1965) - an illustration of life in the circus. This gives us a taste of Weinberg's writing for the circus - scores of his circus music have only just been rediscovered in Russia. (Listen out for several Shostakovich-like passages, particularly the clown-sequence!)

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My final example is Лев и бык/Lev i Byk [The Lion and the Bull], (1984). Listen out for the 'combat' music that accompanies the fox.

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I hope these clips have proved of interest/provided entertainment. I assure you, my next post will be altogether more serious. For now, enjoy!